Battle Under the Moonlight Part 7

Adel's abilities were effective.

His blood-red claws sliced through the air, distorting and then shattering the air barrier.

"Hmm?" Purdo was slightly surprised but didn't seem too concerned. As he had stated before, he would do nothing beyond keeping Mansra alive.

He continuously tapped the air, causing it to twist and condense into barriers, which then solidified into droplets of water.

Each droplet he flicked had an irresistible tremor force; once hit, the victim's attack would instantly be nullified.

A trembling body couldn't muster any strength.

A mutant collapsed, and a ghostly figure of a deer-headed man floated out, passing through the barrier towards Mansra.

Wendigos could attach themselves to human bodies, but for nobles, possession was quickly noticeable. The first sign would be the uncooperative coat of arms, followed by experienced household members recognizing the signs of possession.

Unless intimately familiar with the noble, possession would be detected within a day.

One of his Wendigo companions had once tried to possess a noble, but there was nothing left of him now.

But now, he didn't aim to take over Mansra's identity, only to control his body.

"I can't let you do that," Purdo said as a water droplet flew towards the Wendigo, who didn't dodge.

Wendigos were closer to spirit bodies, generally unaffected by physical attacks and often invisible to most people.

But when the droplet hit, the Wendigo felt as if he was sinking into the ocean, struggling like a drowning man in mid-air, unable to move.

Purdo chuckled, shaking his head. Streams of water poured down from the air like a waterfall, washing away the advancing mutants.

"Don't be afraid, he can't kill us!" Adel clawed the ground, breaking free from the water and charging again.

While the mutants charged Mansra, another situation unfolded on the other side.

The eldest Riel brother, seeing the second brother rise, realized the gravity of their situation. When the third brother rushed out earlier, he had followed without thinking.

But now, even if they returned, they might not retrieve the goods.

Their defense had collapsed when they moved.

Now they had to consider their future survival.

The eldest brother, previously in a haze, suddenly felt a splash of cold water clearing his mind.

"I was influenced," he realized, circulating his life force, his expression growing somber.

He valued family but wasn't reckless. Though the second brother was hit by the greatsword, there were details to consider.

Firstly, the second brother wasn't foolish, yet Sam's target was Jin. Why provoke Sam?

Secondly, the second brother was strong and might not be seriously harmed by the greatsword, especially with Jin around.

Finally, if rescue was needed, Jin should handle it. They weren't close enough to help effectively.

If the second brother had truly died, they could have avenged him by killing Sam.

Now, with the second brother unharmed, their problem was bigger.

Mansra wasn't easy to deal with. Though he might appear forgiving now, he would surely seek retribution later.

The eldest brother glanced at their comrades, who were being cut down by Rupert's men. Those who survived looked angry; abandoning them for brotherly loyalty was seen as betrayal.

This world wasn't a game with fixed loyalty levels. Admiration could fade quickly.

They admired the leader who saved them, not the one who abandoned them in danger.

The eldest brother knew things wouldn't be the same, no matter how he explained.

But he was decisive, especially seeing Mansra's guards approaching.

"Let's go!" He patted the second brother, exchanged a look with the third, and turned to flee.

Reuniting with the guards might retrieve the goods, but with Mansra in trouble, staying would be risky.

They weren't Mansra's retainers, so they decided to flee, hoping Mansra, if he survived, would be too occupied to hunt them down.

Adam was stunned. He had used a pressure spell to influence the Riel brothers, expecting them to attempt a rescue. Instead, they fled upon reuniting, taking no action to recover the goods.

"Sam is invincible!!" Sam roared, believing his presence had scared them off. He grabbed his greatsword and charged at the werewolf again.

If he could kill the werewolf, it would prove his invincibility.

Holding the greatsword, Sam charged and swung at Jin, who dodged and slashed Sam's face, tearing away flesh.

Sam ignored the pain, lifting the sword and slashing wildly, creating afterimages, trying to shred Jin.

Jin dodged swiftly, sometimes turning into black smoke to evade.

But then, Sam grinned, grabbing the blade and slicing his hand, spraying blood over Jin.

He twisted the sword, hitting Jin and sending him crashing into a tree, disappearing into the darkness.

"Sam, over here!" Rupert called, standing by the goods, raising his hand towards Mansra's approaching men.

His coat of arms glowed faintly, emitting a light.

Despite the diminished legacy, Rupert's ancestor's feats held power, manifesting in a formidable ability.

"Uncrossable Boundary!"

Legend had it that during the third Northern Campaign, Rupert's ancestor, a supply officer, fended off an enemy ambush, protecting the supplies and earning his accomplishment. This ability, manifesting as an intercepting force, blocked the advancing men as if hitting an invisible wall.

Rupert drew his bow, an invisible force aiding him, shooting arrows into open ground. As the arrows landed, the opponents' weapons flew from their hands, drawn to the arrows.

His ancestor's bow could release an irresistible force, redirecting enemy arrows and weapons.

"Get ready to be shot!" Rupert smiled, drawing his bow again.

Sam, shouting his invincibility, charged at Mansra with his greatsword, as victory seemed within Rupert's grasp.